Kris Balkcom, Peanut Specialist for Auburn University, recently told attendees at the USA Peanut Congress that after reports on estimated acres, the leaders in the industry have lowered the peanut acreage estimate for 2015. Earlier in the season, the peanut specialist had predicted a 20 percent increase in peanut acreage for 2015. 
After adding up the states, the new estimate is 1,584,000 acres of peanuts, a 15 percent increase over the 2014 acreage of 1,340,000 acres. USDA had earlier estimated a 9% increase in peanut acreage and will issue an update on Tuesday, June 30.
Balkcom also gave a status report for the peanut crop in Alabama. “We had a delayed planting due to a wet April and intense May rains. Planting is just getting finished. This will be a more than likely late crop with some stand issues and the third year of late thrip flights with heavy pressure. We certainly need a good rain in August and September to have a respectable yield to match up with price.”